A Cross Canada Journey – 25 Years Ago…

Back in 2000, I decided to bike across Canada on a recumbent bicycle. A bike I still use to this day. I had a plan to not only journal it, but take interviews along the way, asking people what they thought Canada would be like 50 years from then.

Then, 25 years later, I would do the trip again, take more interviews, and compare the past expectations with the present reality.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to do this journey again. Mostly this is for financial reasons, but also I have certain responsibilities at home that it’s not as easy to take a break from as it used to be. Still, I hold out hope that maybe I’ll win the lottery (or become a famous author, which is just as likely) and be able to do a second trip in the future.

But in the meantime, I figured, why not revisit my original trip 25 years later… in real time?

So that’s my plan, to update my blog with an echo of the past day by day as it happened, along with pictures whenever possible.

Speaking of which, that picture at the top? Yeah, I decided to shave my head so I didn’t have to cut it along the way, and I was curious how much it would grow in three or so months.

So, I had planned to start on May 1st, 2000, but things didn’t work out as planned. My actual go-date ended up being May 8th. But I did write some entries leading up to that. I’ll include the preamble below and in a couple of days the journal starts in earnest.

April 1: T-minus 30 days

I found out on a website that, statistically speaking, I will die fifty years from now, 2050. Earlier I found a website that narrowed the date down to November 11. So I’m supposed to die the same day as my mother on the year that I’ll be asking everyone about. I’ll be talking about what the world will be like when I die. That’s something to remember for the book, I would think.

I picked up my bike yesterday, an awkward ride, very touchy steering, but I know it’s the bike for me. Just need to work the right muscles. I’ve decided to christen it Viaticus Rex. King of the Journey. I think I will be able to store all my equipment on the bike without having to add a pannier! That will cut down on weight a bit.

Can’t get to sleep. Legs a bit sore and… well, nervous. No, not nervous, but anxious. I’m all packed up and ready to go, and it still doesn’t feel really real yet. When will it? When I actually leave on May 1st and it’s too late to back out? Of course, it’s too late to back out anyways… going to sleep now.

Moving day! Dad and Tracy arrived and we were on our way. Of course I got up at 7 after 4 hour sleep, and they didn’t arrive until 11ish. Long long trip, but eventually we got here. I took them out to Chinese dinner and watched Grey Owl.

My fortune cookie read: Next month will prove to be pivotal in your life.

April 2: T-Minus 29 Days

Dad and Tracy went home, and I went for a ride to Victoria. Really got a sense of the power a Bent is capable of. They weren’t kidding when they said that it works different muscles than a regular bike. But it’s so worth it on the downhill slide, man sometimes I think I’ll lose control! Bought some tools for it, but still need more bits and pieces.

April 3: T-Minus 28 Days

I have officially christened it Viaticus Rex, “King of a Journey”, painted in red on the blue chassis. I biked to UVic and went with Gillian a bit there, people ask me if I built it myself, and I’m tempted to answer “No, it was a normal bike until I hit a car, it just ended up like this”, or something that’s actually witty. Control is a bit of a problem still, especially at high speeds, and I’m still trying to start up effectively and with style. The bike gets a lot of looks and a fair number of inquiries, this should be good for the trip.

April 4: T-Minus 27 Days

No biking, screwed up Gillian’s computer, had to try and fix it and wait for IPC call that didn’t come

April 5: T-Minus 26 Days

Still no biking, computer still screwed. Got a cold sore from the sun and wind (I assume). Will bike tomorrow. I see my bike like my Millennium Falcon.

April 6: T-Minus 25 Days

Another long run, went around Victoria, my legs don’t hurt, but man my arm does now! It was cold, it rained, and it even hailed. This was the first time I learned not to corner too quickly on a bike with road tires. Wiped out like a motorcycle, scraped my arm a bit, but I pressed on. Piked up a few parts for my knapsacks, a Victoria badge, and clip pieces. Price shopping for sleeping bags, probably going to go to MEC in Vancouver though.

April 7: T-Minus 24 Days

Did the Uvic trip, but this time with a modified bike. I added the bike computer and clips to put my knapsack. Both worked fine. Slight accident, the cap on the front gears popped off on an upward climb. I am still getting used to the way this bike shifts, especially uphill.